Colors Blaze A New Trail To Classroom

Students gearing up for a new year of readin', writin' and 'rithmetic will get a boost from a new crop of school clothes colorful enough to keep even the most reluctant student bright and alert.

Plaids, checks, stripes, paisleys and other prints are available in sizes to fit first- through 12th-graders. And when it comes to clothes, boys won't have to take a back seat to girls this fall; they will have just as many vibrant options.

Students' wardrobes will give them something in common with their parents, too. Mixing plaids, paisleys and floral prints in energetic, even whimsical, outfits will be stylish for all ages this fall.

Young students will find both durability and style in sturdy corduroy and cotton clothes suited for both the classroom and the playground. Colorful barrettes and coated rubber bands with bows and bangles make attractive accessories and will help keep girls' hair tidy during the school day.

Scaled-down ties and suspenders will give boys a tongue-in-cheek business look that will keep them fashionably at the head of their class. Lots of plaids and checks in bold, bright yellows, blues and purples will show that girls aren't the only ones who want to have fun.

Back-to-school fashions also include a preppy look with a twist -- varsity-style clothes in unexpected color combinations and bearing school crests. Look for these fictitious crests on sweaters, jumpers, shirts and blouses and even caps and berets -- another classy fall accessory for both kids and adults. In tartan and bright plaids, this style looks like a private- school uniform gone wild.

No matter what new subjects fall offers, no student wardrobe would be complete without denim. The traditional slim, five-pocket jean is making a strong comeback this year, as is the rugged, functional jean jacket. But there are also some denim alternatives. Jeans and other pieces are available in a rainbow of colors as well as the season's most popular paisley, floral and plaid prints. These clothes have a hardy life outside the classroom and can be worn casually with Western accessories or spiffed up with tailored check shirts and contrasting polo shirts for a layered effect.

There's so much energy in this year's school clothes that students can start building their school spirit even before they've met their homeroom teacher.